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US 11,591,049 B2Granted
Deployment and retrieval methods for AUVs
AssigneeAutonomous Robotics Limited
InventorsDavid Alexander William Grant, Arran James Holloway
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AssigneeAutonomous Robotics Limited
InventorsDavid Alexander William Grant, Arran James Holloway
Estimating the term…
A method of deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the method comprising loading the AUVs into a deployment device; submerging the deployment device containing the AUVs after the AUVs have been loaded into the deployment device; towing the submerged deployment device containing the AUVs with a surface vessel; deploying the AUVs from the submerged deployment device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and operating a thruster of each AUV after it has been deployed so that it moves away from the submerged deployment device. A method of retrieving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is also disclosed, the method comprising towing a submerged retrieval device with a surface vessel; loading the AUVs into the submerged retrieval device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and after the AUVs have been loaded into the submerged retrieval device, lifting the submerged retrieval device containing the AUVs out of the water and onto the surface vessel.
A submersible device, wherein the submersible device is configured to deploy and retrieve autonomous underwater vehicles as it is towed by a surface vessel, the submersible device comprising propellers which are configured to be used to control a yaw angle of the device as it is towed, wherein the propellers are ducted propellers.
A submersible device, wherein the submersible device is configured to deploy and retrieve autonomous underwater vehicles as it is towed by a surface vessel, the submersible device comprising propellers which are configured to be used to control a yaw angle of the device as it is towed, wherein the submersible device comprises a tether attached to the device by a towing arm.
A submersible device, wherein the submersible device is configured to deploy and retrieve autonomous underwater vehicles as it is towed by a surface vessel, the submersible device comprising propellers which are configured to be used to control a yaw angle of the device as it is towed, further comprising a deployment funnel or a retrieval funnel.
A submersible device, wherein the submersible device is configured to deploy and retrieve autonomous underwater vehicles as it is towed by a surface vessel, the submersible device comprising a chassis or cage, and a towing arm which is rotatably mounted to the chassis or cage at a pivot, wherein the submersible device comprises a tether attached to the device by the towing arm, and wherein the submersible device receives electric power from the tether.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.